Sandra’s POV

Lord Asher stared down at the table, his eyes focused on the map. “How is this possible?”

“We have no reports, I can’t say how, or why, only that it is happening.” Sandra answered. She had been the one to inform Lord Asher of the chaos. She was in the city when a wolf girl suddenly sliced her owner in two with a wind blade. The beast knew it would be put down, and she didn’t fight back when Sandra approached her with a sword drawn. She only smiled and thanked Sandra before falling to her knees to wait for her execution.

Sandra spat on the creature before cutting off her head. When she heard the sounds of panic and death echoing from every corner of the city, she knew needed to inform the Lord.

Asher slammed a fist on the table. “We can’t use magic, but they can? It’s like…” Lord Asher began to laugh as his face brightened with realization.

Sandra still didn’t understand.

Asher took a breath and his expression returned to a calm mask. “Sandra, I need you to find my sons and bring them back here, immediately.”

“I’ll be as quick as I can.”

“Immediately Sandra! They should be near Ango’s.” Lord Kastin was firm, his words like a heavy weight pressing down on her.

She nodded.

“I will end this charade, but she will be waiting for that moment and I doubt we will have time to prepare. Send up a flare when you’ve found them. That will be the signal for me to stop this…this…this game.”

“Yes sir.”

Sandra left the room, her heart racing. She had never seen the lord so shaken, and now he was making impossible demands. She had to find the boys and bring them back, she knew that, but what threat was Lord Kastin worried about?

Unless he thought Asterith herself would come, then he had no reason to fear. He could overcome any and all obstacles. Still, his concern weighed on her as she made her way out of the manor and towards Ango’s.

The city was in chaos, but Sandra had no time to worry about that. She had a mission, and she would not fail. She moved quickly, her sword at the ready, and her senses sharp. She had to be careful, but she had to be swift.

Outside the main gate thousands had gathered. They were trying to escape the horrors of the city, but the manor would be overwhelmed if so many people were allowed in. Most of the magistrates were concentrated there, doing their best to tame the crowd while simultaneously ensuring no slaves could get close to the gate.

Sandr as had taken a hidden side door to get out, but now she’d have to travel down several city blocks to get around the crowd.

She was just turning a corner when a group of ten slaves charged her, their eyes wild with fear and rage. They were armed with improvised weapons, and they were desperate. She knew she had to take them out quickly, or they would swarm her.

Sandra slid to stop, adopting a quick draw stance. She waited for the opportune moment, gripping her sword tightly. The first slave came into range, and Sandra struck, her blade slicing through the air like lightning. The slave screamed, clutching his throat as he fell to the ground.

The others tried to scatter, spreading out and moving around her as one shouted, “Just run, we can escape, we can live.”

A moment later, a black blur shot around the corner, leaping off the side of a building then landing behind Sandra but in front of the slaves.

The slaves stopped in place, trembling and dropping their weapons, but Sandra twisted around to see the creature. It was like something out of her nightmares, a corrupted Glyd’vei with blood red eyes and thick black aura that seemed to taint whatever it touched. The creature stepped forward, its form solid enough to crush stone while simultaneously appearing illusory and impossibly fluid.

The slaves threw down their weapons, backing away then turning and fleeing back the way they’d come. The beast paused, then turned its head slowly to look at Sandra. Its body was that of a cat, with long, lean limbs and a sleek, muscular frame. Its tail was long and thick, ending in a rigid barb. Spikes protruded along its spine and a pair of wings spread out from its back. She couldn’t make out other details through the hazy miasma that swirled around the beast.

Pushing off its powerful hind legs, the beast moved like a bolt of black lightning, covering the distance to the nearest slave in a blink. A red mist sprayed from the girls neck and wrist but the beast had already felled three more of her companions before her body struck the ground.

The slaves were crying out as they ran, but the beast was faster still, it pounced and killed, its movements almost casual. It was playing with its prey, toying with them.

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

Sandra ran. She had only suspicions of what the creature was or where it came from, but as long as it didn’t bother her, she would not interfere with it. She could not. Even with use of her magic, Sandra would not fare any better against a creature so deadly.

She ran as fast as she could, her heart pounding in her chest, her breath coming in short, ragged gasps. She didn’t dare look back. Talent and Dominant had to be found, before that beast decided to make them a snack.

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Talent’s POV

The streets were empty, and Talent felt like he was the only one alive in the city. The silence was eerie, and the wind was cold, and Talent’s heart raced. He came up to slow to the intersection of Crystal and Main, peering carefully around the corner before he proceeded.

He saw a group of three slaves ahead of him. They were using various spells to harass a group of helpless citizens. He ducked back, praying no one noticed him.

A moment later, he heard a scream, then another. Talent didn’t want to risk getting involved. He needed to get to the manor, he needed to get back to safety. If he could use magic, he would definitely help them, but he could not. He was not strong enough, not without his spells.

He pressed himself flat against the wall, and held his breath. The screams faded, and the sounds of footsteps echoed through the street. They were coming closer. His position was too exposed, they would find him. He recalled the gun his father insisted he carry at all times. It was similar enough to magic, just point and shoot, but the pistol was in his dimensional storage space. He couldn’t access it without magic.

He heard a soft click, then a hiss, and the sound of metal on stone. He couldn’t see what was happening, but he knew he couldn’t wait any longer. He had to act now, or he would die. He had to fight.

He rushed around the corner ready to punch the first face in range, but he stopped short when Sandra’s face was the only one he saw. “Glad to see you’re safe,” she said, her voice cold. “Where is Dominant?”

“I don’t know. I told him we needed to get back to the manor, but he ran off playing hero.”

She punched the brick wall, shouting, “Fuck!” Sandra scanned the sky and the surrounding buildings, then pulled a flare gun from her pocket. “There’s no choice then. If he runs into that…thing, he’ll be dead for sure.”

Talent was didn’t know what thing she was talking about, but he did know launching a flare would give away their position and that didn’t seem like a good idea if there was something strong enough to frighten Sandra prowling around.Before he could ask, Sandra pulled the trigger.

The flare shot up, high into the sky leaving a bright red streak behind it.

Talent stared at it, his mouth hanging open. He shook his head stepping away from Sandra. “What have you done?”

Sandra looked at him confused, “I signaled your father. He’ll—”

“Every one in the city will have seen and heard that flare. In a few moments we’ll be swarmed by beast bloods with nothing to lose.”

Sandra glared at him, “I’m not worried about the slaves, and you shouldn’t be either. Come on, we need to hurry.”

Talent didn’t have time to argue, she was right, they needed to get to the manor before they were attacked. Most importantly, they needed to put distance between themselves and their current position. He followed her through the empty streets, keeping an eye out for any signs of life or movement.

He saw a shadow darting between the buildings, and he heard a scream. “Did you hear that?” he asked, stopping.

Sandra grabbed his arm, pulling him along. “Keep moving damn it.”

He tried to resist, but she was stronger than him. “We can’t just—”

Sandra stopped suddenly, her grip on him tightening. She shoved him back against the wall and held him there. Her eyes were wide and she was breathing heavily. “You idiot!” she hissed. “You’re going to get us both killed. Now shut up and let me get you home.”

Talent didn’t understand why she was so angry, but he could tell she meant every word. He nodded, and they started walking again, faster this time.

The air went still, then Talent felt a gust of wind showering him with mana. His body trembled with relief as his mana starved muscles drank it in. He could move again. He could fly again. But he still needed Sandra.

“Come on, let’s get out of here. I can’t take on a whole army of slaves alone.”

Sandra nodded, but before they could move, Dominant stumbled out of an alley, black mist rising from his flesh. He look at them with half focused eyes then fell forward in the street.

Sandra hurried to his side, checking for signs of life, but Talent watched from afar, unwilling to lend aid to a foolish ant.He wouldn’t be unconscious now if he had listened to Talent earlier. Together they might even have made it back to the manor.

“Grab his legs, help me get him to the manor.” Sandra ordered.

Talent hesitated, “Why should we? He’ll only slow us down, and we’re in a rush.”

“Your father will want to know what happened here.” She grunted, straining to lift Dominant alone.

Talent sighed, and moved to help her. It would be faster to do as she asked than argue with her. “You know he won’t care about this.”

Sandra didn’t answer, she just continued to carry Dominant’s limp body.

With a dissatisfied huff, Talent lifted Dominant with his magic. “Let’s fly.” He said lifting off without waiting for Sandra’s reply. He carried the ant behind him until they landed in one of the manor gardens. A dozen guards surrounded them, swords drawn, and mana charged spells ready.

One of the guards stepped forward. “Is everyone alright?”

Talent nodded. “Except for my fathers’s pet, where all fine.”

They lowered their weapons, and the lead guard approached. “What happened?”

Talent shrugged. “Something impossible that I’d rather be explaining to my father than you. Get out of the way.” He shoved the guard aside and strode through the courtyard toward the house. He didn’t bother to wait for Sandra. She would probably want to tend to the ant anyway. He didn’t have time to waste on that.

Talent made his way to his father’s office, and found the door open. His father was standing in front of a large map, staring at it intently. When Talent entered, he turned to him. The High Lord took in his soon briefly then turned back to the table, “Where is Sandra, and Dominant.”

“They’re fine, they’re outside, probably making out.” His father glared at him and he sighed. “Dominant fell unconscious during the attack and Sandra was tending to him when I left.”

The high lord nodded, his attention shifting back to the map. “You may go.”

“What? What happened? Why couldn’t I use magic?”

Asher shook his head. “If you can’t figure that out for yourself then you may as well quit playing judge. With no diato and no guts, you’re already just average anyway.”

Talent clenched his jaw, but he knew better than to argue. He bowed his head, and left the room.